Obama gets Secret Service protection, earliest ever for a presidential candidate

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The Secret Service said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama was being placed under its protection, the earliest ever for a presidential candidate.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized Obama's protection after consultations with the congressional advisory committee.

Zahren would not provide details of what led to the extra security...

[...]

Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising.

In a Feb. 12 interview with The Associated Press, Obama dismissed concerns about his own security, but would not answer directly when asked if he had received death threats.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles...tial_candidate/

[Niels Bohr 72]

Well, if I was the first Asian-American to become President I would've seek protection as well. Unfortunately, I can only run for Vice-President not the President. It's all good.

[Caladan 19]

Seeking protection isn't a choice or something the candidate can petition for specially. It's standard for the Secret Service to treat the nominee (or presumptive nominees) as if he were the President, but I'd guess that there's been more chatter from America's homegrown white supremacist wackjobs about Obama.